Take Great Auto Pictures

Whether you're the proud owner
of some hot new wheels, or enjoy shooting pictures at car shows, there are a
few tips to keep in mind which will make your photography easier and more fun.

Reader
photo by G. Jimmy Chen, Salt Lake City, UT

It's important to keep your
camera angle in mind when photographing cars. Most people tend to shoot subjects
from eye level when they're standing, which makes for mediocre images.
If you're at a car show, you may not have much room to move around, so
it's a good idea to get close to the vehicle. This will eliminate distractions
in your photos, which occurs when you stand back and try to take in too much
through the viewfinder (another very common mistake). Instead, try shooting
from a low or high angle for an interesting perspective and to simplify your
compositions.

Reader
photo by Gary Berkheimer, Madeira Beach, FL

Some professional photographers
use tall stepladders to shoot down on vehicles, but even a crate or a kitchen
stepstool will put you above eye level. A low angle can also be very dramatic.
Try getting down to the level of the car's grill, or even lying on the
ground and shooting up slightly. If your point-and-shoot has a zoom lens, you
can get some dramatic, somewhat distorted images by using the wide-angle setting
and shooting close to the car. If you're at a low enough angle, you can
include blue sky or foliage behind the vehicle. A wide-angle lens is also helpful
when you want to stand back and encompass a group of cars; just make sure to
avoid getting a cluttered composition.

A telephoto lens is a great tool for isolating details. Once you've photographed
an entire car, use your zoom lens on its telephoto setting (and/or get close
to your subject) to shoot the hood ornament alone, or perhaps the shape of the
bumper and a headlight. Have fun composing abstracts by honing in designs, shapes
or colors.

Choose your backgrounds carefully. You can try isolating your subject against
a blurred backdrop with your lens on its telephoto setting. Or find a background
that enhances the car you're photographing, such as an SUV in the midst
of a rugged outdoor setting. Just make sure the background won't compete
for attention with your primary subject, the vehicle.

Reader
photo by Richard Lotman Brown, Kansas City, MO

Just as with other photo subjects,
lighting is important. An overcast day, and early morning/late afternoon illumination
is best. The midday sun can produce harsh shadows and wash out colors. Indirect
sunlight and open shade offer soft, even illumination. The next time you're
photographing cars on a partly sunny day, compare pictures by shooting one in
full sunlight, and then wait for a cloud to obstruct the sun and photograph
your subject again.